All this talk of driverless cars being tested on UK roads has got me thinking – as a driver, how will their introduction affect me?
Imagine a world without crashes, congestion and road rage – heaven, right?
But as an enthusiast, like the 350 million or so fans that watch Top Gear, I do wonder even if the option was there, whether I’d ever choose to give up control of my own car.
I know I’d certainly miss the satisfaction of pushing the accelerator hard, plus the thrill of the open road. Then there’s the question of trust – do I have enough faith in the technology to let my car drive itself?
Selfishly, the only time I think it would certainly be great for me, is after a big night out, when a driverless car would remove the need to worry about the law and who’s driving home!
News that the Government is to allow the testing of driverless cars on UK roads is big news.
Okay, so the announcement that the Government is to allow the testing of driverless cars on UK roads is big news. However, the idea of driverless cars is nothing new – even if before it was more science fiction than reality. Remember Kitt, David Hasslehoff and Knight Rider anyone?
So, if the technology is available, why is there not more support for self-driving cars? Surely self-driving cars would be cheaper, more-efficient and safer?
Well, there’s still plenty of issues to be ironed out – hence the reason for the testing on UK roads. The thought of the computer in control of your driverless car going wrong at 70+mph doesn’t even bear thinking about.
Plus, I wonder if there’s a network strong enough to support all the computers controlling these cars.
Car manufacturers are aware of these points too, surely dragging their feet, as they wouldn’t be able to sell the driving experience. Turning the car into white goods, would surely make them less attractive and consequently cut sales.
Until these questions are answered, I’m more than happy to have control of my steering wheel, accelerator, brake and clutch pedals.
All this talk of driverless cars being tested on UK roads has got me thinking – as a driver, how will their introduction affect me? Imagine a world without crashes, congestion and road rage – heaven, right? But as an enthusiast, like the 350 million or so fans that watch Top Gear, I do wonder … Continued
I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot recently – and not just because we have some electric car points at our new offices, although that does focus the mind. But what if BIK was changed to earmark more of the pollutants that affect air quality – such as NOx from car exhausts as well … Continued
We’re not even a month into 2015 and while the weather might be cold and snowy outside, the news coming from the car makers is all hot, hot, hot. That’s because the first big motor show of 2015 has kicked off in motor city itself – Detroit. So what was making the news Stateside? … Continued
I really don’t go for New Year resolutions – at least on a personal level. You always start off with good intentions and then end up with that inevitable sense of failure as that New Year vim gradually ebbs away. Well, at least in my case it does… But it is always a good time … Continued
Dear Santa, We’ve all been good boys and girls here at Fleet Alliance. Just so you know, we’ve managed to reduce the environmental impact of our clients by lowering the CO2 output of their fleets by over 2 billion grammes. After all, we wouldn’t want to see Santa’s Winter Wonderland Grotto beginning to melt… We’ve … Continued
The diesel car has found itself under attack. First London Mayor Boris Johnson suggests a £12.50 charge for diesel cars entering London – the only exception being for Euro 6 diesels. Then France goes further. French prime minister Manuel Valls wants to progressively ban all diesel cars from France and encourage french drivers to go … Continued
Just where are you on blurred seasonality? Maybe I’m getting older and more curmudgeonly but I really find it irksome when Christmas starts in the shops mid-November. OK, I know they have a job to do but if you’re not careful the magic of Christmas can run out before the big day finally arrives. There … Continued
Some people accuse me of talking a lot of hot air. Slightly unfair I feel, but sometimes I see their point. Anyway, we like the idea of going green here at Fleet Alliance, not least because we all want cleaner air and a reversal of the polar ice cap melt. Of course, there is a … Continued
Hollywood needs stars – and the honeypot for the film industry had its own beauty parade of talent in the Los Angeles Motor Show. OK, perhaps I should be less formal and more US: the Los Angeles Auto Show, to give the motor expose its proper title, has just ended its glittering run at the … Continued
Have you thought about an electric car for your fleet? Although the upfront cost is more than a similar conventional diesel or petrol car, the running costs – from fuel to maintenance – are spectacularly low. Much commentary – quite rightly – has focused on the lack of range: generally up to 100 miles. But … Continued